b'Arizona Ask the VetREAL COUNTRY STREPTOCOCCUS the magazineEQUI (STRANGLES)Mike Barna M ention the word "strangles" to a horse personprevious strangles disease or exposure. Horses with and they will cringe. Strangles is a highlypurpura hemorrhagica may develop edema of the Publisher contagious upper respiratory infection of horseshead, trunk, and/or legs as well as broken blood caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi subspeciesvessels or bruising of the mucous membranes of the ArizonaRealCountryMagazine@gmail.com equi (S. equi). The bacteria colonize the horses tonsilsmouth, eyes, and nose. Additional signs can include and pharynx within hours of infection and then infectfever, severe depression, and muscle tightness. The Erika Smith Royal the lymph nodes under and behind the jaw resultingseverity of symptoms in purpura hemorrhagica cases in the abscessation of these structures days later.ranges from mild to life-threatening.Editor Horses are typically not contagious during the initial erika963realcountry@gmail.com 48-72 hours. DiagnosisSamples obtained from lymph node abscesses, throat Strangles commonly affects young horses under thewashes or guttural pouch washes may provide a Misty Voitovski age of five, but horses of any age can be infected.diagnosis by a bacterial culture within 48 hours. Creative Director Strangles is shed in nasal secretions, includingPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) can provide a through direct nose-to-nose contact betweendiagnosis the same day depending on proximity to horses, or through the contamination of a shareda laboratory that provides the service. Horses do Contributing Writers environment like water troughs, hoses, feed bunks,not shed the bacteria for up to 72 hours from the pastures, stalls, trailers, tack, grooming equipment,onset of fever, so definitive diagnosis often cannot be Lee Anderson, Amara Heartquist,nose wipe cloths or sponges, attendants handsdetermined in this initial time period. An increased Justin Legler, Mark Melkowski,and clothing, or insects contaminated with nasalwhite blood cell count, combined with anemia and Betsy Nunn, Jim Olson,discharge or pus draining from lymph nodes ofhigh proteins can be suggestive of a bacterial disease Liz Potof, Bill Roberts,infected horses. prior to shedding but are not specific Alan Rockman, Bob Roloff,Rarely, thefor strangles.John Samsill, Hank Sheffer infection spreads to other parts ofTreatment/the body resultingAftercarein abscesses inTreatment goals 801 W. Wickenburg Way other organs suchare to control Wickenburg, AZ 85390 as the intestines,the spread of the kidneys, lungs,contagious disease (602) 254-6644 spleen or liver.and eliminate This is often calledinfection while ArizonaRealCountry.com bastard stranglesproviding future or metastaticimmunity to abscessation.the disease. A few horsesUncomplicated may develop acases require hypersensitivitysupportive care reaction to the bacteria with repeated exposure eithersuch as soft food, shelter, anti-inflammatories, hot in the form of infection or vaccination otherwisepacking and drainage of abscesses. Depending on known as purpura hemorrhagica. Horses thatthe degree and length of the fever and severity of develop classic clinical signs and are not treated withsymptoms, these horses may need antibiotics such Follow Arizona Realantibiotics have the potential to develop immuneas penicillin. Horses with bastard strangles typically protection for up to five years. require an average of 2 months of antibiotics. Horses Country for news, events,with purpura hemorrhagica usually require antibiotics and corticosteroids to quiet the overactive immune giveaways and more! Signs/Symptoms reaction for an extended period.Classic clinical signs include a fever first, followed by one or more of the following symptoms: decreased or complete loss of appetite, depression, large amountsThe enlarged lymph nodes sometimes obstruct the Arizona Real Country is owned andof thick yellow nasal discharge, difficulty swallowingairway, necessitating an emergency tracheostomy. published by Barna Broadcastingor breathing and lymph node enlargement under theWhen the lymph nodes drain into the guttural LLC. No person, organization or partyjaw and/or in the throat latch region. The abscessedpouch, repeated lavage might be required through can copy or reproduce the contentlymph nodes may drain externally or into the gutturalan endoscope or an indwelling catheter. Endoscopic pouches (blind-end sacs connected to the throat inequipment or surgery might be necessary to remove on our website and/or magazine orhorses) resulting in nasal discharge. Horses that havedried pus. Local treatment of the guttural pouch with a any part of this publication withoutbeen vaccinated for strangles or horses that havegelatin/penicillin antibiotic mixture can be performed a written consent from the editorsprevious partial immunity may develop milder signsafter removal of the material within the pouch. panel and the author of the content, asof upper respiratory tract infection.applicable. The publisher, authors andAfter clinical signs resolve, some horses will remainIdeally, three throat flush samples are obtained from contributors reserve their rights withasymptomatic shedders of the bacteria and can go onrecovering horses and any horses that were in contact regards to copyright of their work. to infect other horses. with sick horses at weekly intervals and are tested forS. equi subsp equi by PCR and culture. Identification Bastard strangles cases may develop colic signs, fever,of strangles bacteria in clinically recovered horses may and/or weight loss with or without a history ofcontinued on page 7ArizonaRealCountry.com January 2020 5'